A Looking Glass, Darkly
Summary : AU. What if it really was Raito's subconscious that was killing people and Raito himself doesn't know it?
Disclaimer : Death Note belongs to Tsugumi Ohba.
Chapter Two
When L proposed CCTV in the homes of all police investigator in Kira case with families, Yagami Souichirou was shocked and appalled. Haven't Raito proved he wasn't Kira yet? Why was L so suspicious of Raito, so obsessed over that fact? However, even Yagami Souichirou was forced to acknowledge that L knew best. He was willing to sacrifice his dignity, his home's security an privacy if only this last ditch attempt would clear his son, completely.
CCTV proved ineffective. All they discover was that Raito was quite a ladies man, and the number of girls following him home was more than the entire team ever dated in the span of three days. Nothing sexual happened. Not for the lack of girls trying, but Raito was simply inhumane with his control and sexual urges. The entire investigation team learned quite a lot on the tactics of seduction, of smiles that turned girls away without breaking their hearts (leaving false hope) and how to charm expensive gifts, mostly notebooks, from admirers. Bitter chocolates, expensive books and designer clothes were easily obtained with a mere softening of the eyes and the gentle curving of the mouth.
And in all this, Kira kept on killing, hidden under the pretense of examining the gifts, particularly notebooks and books where small scraps of death notes were hidden. Raito remain oblivious to the entire thing, just a bit confused why he felt the urge to go all-out seduction war with the girls he knew. He usually treated them with slight disdain, and could never find the time for them. At least his fan base seems to have increased, and the number of gifts was piling up. Sure, Raito had always wanted to obtain some of them, and his allowance wasn't enough to cover the cost. But he usually preferred a challenge, when he made risky investments to obtain enough fund to acquire his desires.
The CCTV was removed a week later, after the investigation finally decided that watching Yagami Raito's seduction tactics was pointless and that while his moves were manipulative, they were at a too small scale for a possible Kira suspect. He was wasting his charms on seducing cute naïve schoolgirls, and for simple things like a box of his favorite bitter chocolates or a new notebook. Even L was forced to admit nothing suspicious happened, and that Raito didn't act suspiciously in the span of that one week. Yagami Souichirou discovered a new side of his "innocent" son who was not above charming a girl or two for some trinkets he wanted. He vowed to increase Raito's allowance to cover the cost of those frivolities Raito favored.
When L decided to attend Toudai in order to investigate Raito, Raye Penber was among those who opposed the idea. Raito just could not possibly be Kira, and the sheer amount of excuses was overwhelming. L just smiled and said it was a gut feeling. Raito had an air about him, something rather suspicious that L wanted to investigate, and L was about 2 suspicious Raito was Kira. 2 was enough. Yagami Souichirou wondered why of all people it had to be his son, and if L had alternative motives other than investigations. L was very interested in watching Raito, and followed all Raito's move closely. The fear for his son's welfare was increasing everyday.
Roses made Raito look angelic. Some of the older graduating girls had given them to Raito upon him scoring prefect scores to enter Toudai. Cradling the bouquet of roses delicately, with the blood red petals and the alluring scent clinging to him, he made his speech. He looks very at home with the flowers, like romance personified, and the female went crazy. His companion, Hideki Ryuuga, seem faded into the background. Scruffy and unkempt, he didn't look like he belonged to Toudai. Raito noted all this, and offered to share the celebratory roses. Ryuuga was surprised, but accepted the bouquet with grace. A new friendship was formed.
You could say it was foolishness. Kira nearly wanted to write Raito's name down in the Death Note. If it didn't mean he would need to die with Raito, he would. How could that idiot befriend Hideki Ryuuga, befriend him so easily? Don't he ever had a self doubt? Ryuuga could be a police, or FBI, or working for L! Raito was an idiot, and that was final. Raito was too kind, too charismatic, and cared a bit too much. How could splitting psyche create such a monster like Raito? Kind, gentle, sweet, handsome, charismatic, resourceful, the list goes on. It was good, right? No it was not. Raito has no long term goal, no ambition and no distrust.
Kira was beyond frustrated. He could understand the concept that if you lie, lie convincingly. The best to lie convincing is to be able to lie to yourself, and make the lie reality? Raito did just that. Even Kira was impressed at Raito's ability to lie to himself. He had seen many actors and actresses, and Raito's memory banks were vast, but no other could lie so convincingly to himself. He even made his lie reality, reconstructed his personality and quirks and split his mindset, his way of thinking. Kira could not believe it was actually possible until it had happened and he was the conscious part of the psyche that remembers what Raito did. Even Kira has to say it was genius.
Befriending Ryuuga wasn't. It was a bad move. BAD, with capital letters. Ryuuga reeked of suspicions. Raito didn't seem to care at all, even with Kira flashing neon green signals to him. Billboard big signals with emergency wails. Fine, Kira would never do that. It was a figurative of speech, but, did Raito had to befriend Ryuuga? Sitting together in class? Playing tennis after school hours? Why can't Raito settle with a nice girl and ignore that scruffy unkempt tennis player. Sure Ryuuga could give Raito a run for his money in both academics and tennis, but do they have to be friends? And afternoon tea breaks after tennis matches? Kira wanted to tear his hair out with worry and frustration.
To Raito, having Ryuuga as a friend was good. He could communicate with Ryuuga, tossing ideas and concepts around that other students would have found hard and confusing. Even if Ryuuga was had horrible table manners, and bad eating disorder. Raito could tolerate that much for tennis matches and long hours of debate over tea. Raito refused to partake in the cakes that Ryuuga likes so much, and Ryuuga did not comment on Raito's obsessive cleanliness, his dislike for things that are sweet and his methods of getting work done. It really was a beautiful friendship, despite internal alarms ringing at every turn.
If Kira was murderous at the thought of their friendship, and Raito was accepting it without much thought, L was confused. He had thought coming personally to test Raito would be a good move. It turned out not. It was throwing all his data and statistics into leaps and plunges. Raito was, in L's opinion, a possible Kira. But not Kira. Raito was innocent, and L would vouch for him if needed to. He hoped not, because it would be like admitting his theory and suspicion on Raito was wrong. Raito was kind, smart and a good friend. L thought that Raito was possibly the most perfect human he had ever encountered. He listened when L talked about his theories, and he understood. He accepted L, his weird quirks and I-can't-tell-you-sorry excuses. And to L, his excuses are always lame and fake, but Raito never said anything, accepting it with a smile.
To L, Raito was his friend, his first friend ever. If Kira was ever to discover Yagami Raito was L's friend and a possible pawn in their power struggle, Raito would probably end up being manipulated by Kira. Or killed. Whichever he would prove to have more value in. Dead or essential in helping Kira against L. And if Kira came between them, Kira would rue the day he heard the name L. L would probably find him and bring Kira to justice through all means possible, even if he had to overturn Japan. He was holding back on some of the less desirable means. There was just some lines that shouldn't be crossed. But for L, the line was Raito, his utterly innocent friend.
Ryuk thought it was all funny. Humans were so amusing. He never thought that dropping a Death Note to Earth could provide this much entertainment. Kira was brilliant, a genius, but absolutely hopeless against Raito. Raito, who threw Kira's plans into jeopardy in one moment, or helped Kira in staying under L's radar next with whatever schemes he did. And if there was one variable Kira did not count on, it was himself. The other half of his psyche to date was his greatest threat and greatest ally. Helping him in a moment and hindering Kira next. Yes, it was truly entertaining. He couldn't wait for the next move.
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